So I'm getting out of the rat race

You don't have an ounce of sincerity or compassion figured into your online persona, do you.

 

It was a joke.

 

I'm always surprised so many people are in the rat-race industry.
It sounds like its lucrative, but I don't understand how.
I've never seen rat racing or heard anyone talking about rat racing other than to get out of the industry.

This whole rat racing phenomenon seems to be more underground than chicken fighting.

 

Congrats, and kudos, Dick. I don't have my own family, but there's so much to be said for a work-life balance. I miss journalism a lot, but not the business of it. Since leaving four years ago, I've been able to live life so much better. Making double what I made in journalism and having 6 weeks of PTO helps, but it's the small things, like not having to take phone calls on first dates or chase stories at weird hours of the night that matter.

And I was getting tired of explaining to my grandparents and parents even, why I had to miss holidays so much. I never want to have regrets about spending time with my loved ones, just because of a job.

 

I'm making less than half of what I made in my later newspaper years ...and am about twice as content.

 

Is that livable?

 

Oh, easily as long as you have retirement accounted for.

 

Congrats DW.

There's a lot to be said to getting the work/life balance to actually balance. Money is great, but having breakfast with the kids and dinner with the family - rather than takeout at your desk - is pretty damn awesome.

 

This is what I found, as well. And I don't think it's uncommon among people who leave newspaper jobs. It wasn't livable at first, several years ago now. But it's there now.

 

If I made half of what I'm making now, I'd probably have to give blow jobs in back alleys to make ends meet.

 

Between that and covering a swim meet?

Toss up.